Your Christmas tree can help save the coast

Published: Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 7:11 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 7:11 p.m.

You can help save the coast by putting your Christmas tree out on the curb.

Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes will once again gather residents’ Christmas trees for a project that builds wave barriers in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and along the Larose-to-Golden Meadow levee.

The parishes’ Christmas tree programs are an extension of a state program that used Christmas trees to help prevent wetland erosion. That program ran for almost 20 years until the state cut its budget in 2009, deeming the program ineffective. But Terrebonne Parish Coastal Restoration Director Nic Matherne said the program has been revived in Terrebonne because it works.

“Terrebonne decided to keep the program because our Christmas tree program location is providing a great deal of protection for the marsh,” Matherne said. “If you look at satellite imagery, it’s doing a great job of preventing that land from washing away.”

The trees are used to help slow waves in areas suffering erosion and help to build new land. The Christmas trees collected from residents are placed into retention fences, called cribs, which have been constructed along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway near the Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge in Terrebonne. In Lafourche, the trees are placed outside the south Lafourche levee in Golden Meadow to protect against erosion, said Lafourche Parish spokeswoman Loralei A. Gilliam.

Placed inside the cribs, the trees allow water to move through but break the waves that erode wetlands. The trees also slow the water so it drops silt and sediment, helping to sustain wetlands.

Eventually, the trees decompose.

The program keeps trees out of the landfill and uses them for something positive for the coast.

“Here we can put them to good use, because saving even the smallest bit of coast counts,” Matherne said.

It is also cost effective because it uses the regular garbage collection service to pick up trees, and volunteers place them in areas vulnerable to coastal erosion.

The project may not be one of the biggest and best restoration projects out there, said Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet. But one of the biggest advantages of the program is it allows residents to get involved in coastal restoration, Claudet said. And that’s important.

“One of the No. 1 questions I get from residents is ‘What can I do to help?’ ” Matherne said. “Unless you have millions of dollars to spare for a restoration project, the best thing you can do is volunteer for coastal plantings or participate in our Christmas tree program.”

To participate in the program, place your Christmas tree in your normal garbage pickup area between Wednesday and Jan. 8. You can also take your tree to one of the residential drop-off sites at 263 Ashland Landfill Road in Houma, 651 Isle of Cuba Road in Schriever or 160 Crochetville Road in Montegut.

In Lafourche, trees will be collected curbside from Jan. 10-12 and from Jan. 17-19. Trees left on the curb outside of these dates will be picked up as regular garbage.

Dropoff locations will not be offered in Lafourche Parish this year because of program constraints.

Only green trees will be accepted. Flocked trees and trees with tinsel, decorations or tree stands cannot be used.

Nikki Buskey can be reached at 857-2205 or nicole.buskey@houmatoday.com.

<p>You can help save the coast by putting your Christmas tree out on the curb.</p><p>Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes will once again gather residents' Christmas trees for a project that builds wave barriers in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and along the Larose-to-Golden Meadow levee.</p><p>The parishes' Christmas tree programs are an extension of a state program that used Christmas trees to help prevent wetland erosion. That program ran for almost 20 years until the state cut its budget in 2009, deeming the program ineffective. But Terrebonne Parish Coastal Restoration Director Nic Matherne said the program has been revived in Terrebonne because it works.</p><p>“Terrebonne decided to keep the program because our Christmas tree program location is providing a great deal of protection for the marsh,” Matherne said. “If you look at satellite imagery, it's doing a great job of preventing that land from washing away.”</p><p>The trees are used to help slow waves in areas suffering erosion and help to build new land. The Christmas trees collected from residents are placed into retention fences, called cribs, which have been constructed along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway near the Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge in Terrebonne. In Lafourche, the trees are placed outside the south Lafourche levee in Golden Meadow to protect against erosion, said Lafourche Parish spokeswoman Loralei A. Gilliam. </p><p>Placed inside the cribs, the trees allow water to move through but break the waves that erode wetlands. The trees also slow the water so it drops silt and sediment, helping to sustain wetlands.</p><p>Eventually, the trees decompose.</p><p>The program keeps trees out of the landfill and uses them for something positive for the coast.</p><p>“Here we can put them to good use, because saving even the smallest bit of coast counts,” Matherne said.</p><p>It is also cost effective because it uses the regular garbage collection service to pick up trees, and volunteers place them in areas vulnerable to coastal erosion.</p><p>The project may not be one of the biggest and best restoration projects out there, said Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet. But one of the biggest advantages of the program is it allows residents to get involved in coastal restoration, Claudet said. And that's important.</p><p>“One of the No. 1 questions I get from residents is 'What can I do to help?' ” Matherne said. “Unless you have millions of dollars to spare for a restoration project, the best thing you can do is volunteer for coastal plantings or participate in our Christmas tree program.”</p><p>To participate in the program, place your Christmas tree in your normal garbage pickup area between Wednesday and Jan. 8. You can also take your tree to one of the residential drop-off sites at 263 Ashland Landfill Road in Houma, 651 Isle of Cuba Road in Schriever or 160 Crochetville Road in Montegut.</p><p>In Lafourche, trees will be collected curbside from Jan. 10-12 and from Jan. 17-19. Trees left on the curb outside of these dates will be picked up as regular garbage.</p><p>Dropoff locations will not be offered in Lafourche Parish this year because of program constraints.</p><p>Only green trees will be accepted. Flocked trees and trees with tinsel, decorations or tree stands cannot be used.</p><p>Nikki Buskey can be reached at 857-2205 or nicole.buskey@houmatoday.com.</p>